Take time for recovery

So you have been working out, eating right and getting enough sleep. Yet, there is something off. You might have plateaued in your personal bests, or maybe that nagging elbow pain just keeps lingering? Perhaps you are just stressed out from adhering to your wellness plan all the time.

You might need to make time for active recovery or passive recovery. Active recovery is the simple principle of exercising at a lower intensity or volume, maybe taking a slower jog instead of a high-intensity interval training session. Passive recovery means you don’t do any exercise. Whether you decide on active or passive recovery may just be up to how you are wired. But do make sure to recovery if you are feeling burnt out from striving to be in peak form. Of course, we will be the first to tell you that adding some cryotherapy to your recovery protocol is key.

Recovery lets your muscles and mind heal. This allows you to go back to your fitness and diet routine with renewed energy. Switching up your physical activity can train your body to do new movements. Here are some suggestions on how to stay active while still recovering.

Yoga: Take time to be mindful, stretch and be meditative. One of the most overlooked benefits of yoga is conscious breathing. Pick a yoga type that appeals to you and give it a try.

Swimming: It’s easy on the joints and you can get in the zone when swimming laps. Find a local pool. Grab some goggles and work on perfecting your stroke.

Walking: Really take in your surroundings. Get the blood flowing and enjoy some fresh air.

Bicycling: If you don’t own a bike, rent one and hit Central Park. It’s a ton of fun and you can still get a get leg and aerobic workout. Cruise on downhills.

Stretch and use a foam roller: Really carve out some time to stretch and apply a foam roller to tight areas. Most of the time athletes rush these two recovery components.